SAM IS SIMPLY SENSATIONAL!

Aberdeen are flying high ahead of Croatia trip after Cosgrove inspires spectacular comeback over Hearts

THERE was a time when Aberdeen fans feared that Sam Cosgrove’s standout contribution in a red jersey would be getting sent off eight minutes into his debut for clattering Celtic’s Scott Brown.

Unable to make a mark on an opposition net in the first ten months of his stay at Pittodrie, the £20,000 signing from Carlisle United looked nervy and lacking in confidence in front of goal.

These days, however, red-hot Cosgrove has ice running through his veins any time he’s presented with a scoring chance.

With the on-form Englishman in the team anything feels possible for the Dons; even crazy comebacks like the one he helped mastermind yesterday at the end of a truly spellbinding encounter with Hearts.

After Cosgrove’s opening goal had been cancelled out by Steven Naismith, Jamie Walker put the Tynecastle side in front at Pittodrie with just 14 minutes remaining.

However, shortly after Hearts midfielder Aaron Hickey saw red in a game that also yielded nine yellow cards, Cosgrove coolly fired home a spot-kick to make it eight goals in his last five games — and 27 in 33.

His calm penalty from 12 yards then paved the way for substitute Ryan Hedges to fire home a glorious winner with five minutes remaining.

And this fine victory ensures Derek McInnes’ side head to Croatia brimming with confidence ahead of their Europa League third qualifying round first leg tie with Rijeka on Thursday night.

McInnes had made two changes from the side who thumped Chikhura Sachkhere 5-0 at Pittodrie last week to progress 6-1 on aggregate against the Georgians.

Hedges and Niall McGinn were both dropped to the bench while Scott Wright and James Wilson came in.

Hearts had finished on top of their group in the Betfred Cup. But losing on penalties at East Fife had put Craig Levein under pressure ahead of the Premiership’s big kick-off.

The Tynecastle boss made just the one change, John Souttar replacing Dario Zanatta as Hearts went with three at the back.

Aberdeen wasted no time in going for the jugular and the home side believed they should have had a penalty when Cosgrove was shoved in the box by Souttar.

Former Manchester United striker Wilson should have done better as he blazed a shot over the bar, only for the outstanding Cosgrove to show his fellow striker the way to goal.

When Hearts captain Christophe Berra misjudged a long ball from Funso Ojo, the Dons forward bore down on goal from the left flank.

Clearly high on confidence, Cosgrove drew Zdenek Zlamal before sending a terrific low finish into the bottom corner of the net.

It required a fine stop from Zlamal to stop Gallagher making it two after his first effort had been blocked at the edge of the box.

Hearts’ game plan of shelling the ball long to big Uche Ikpeazu was not bearing much fruit.

Aberdeen captain Joe Lewis had to look lively, however, pulling off a stunning one-handed save from Berra’s crashing header following a corner by Andy Irving.

As the game turned increasingly physical, Hearts midfielder Hickey was booked for deliberately fouling Wright as he tried to run on to a Gallagher through ball. The card would prove costly.

By now Ikpeazu was upsetting Pittodrie with his physical challenges on Aberdeen defenders and he entered referee Don Robertson’s book after catching Scott McKenna as they contested an aerial battle.

Hearts’ Sean Clare followed him for a tackle on Wright, before there was a blow for the visitors when Souttar limped off injured six minutes before half time.

In an attempt to inject urgency into his side, Levein sent on Naismith and new signing Conor Washington. The presence of the veteran forward immediately geed up the Hearts players and their fans.

The Edinburgh club spent the summer locked in a protracted pursuit of Naismith before finally signing him on a four-year deal.

He took under a minute yesterday to prove he was worth the wait as he turned this match on its head.

With his first touch of the ball, Naismith evaded his marker to head home after a long throw-in from Michael Smith had been flicked on by Craig Halkett.

With Naismith urging, cajoling and screaming at his team-mates, Hearts looked a team transformed.

Washington thought he had scored a second but his shot found the side netting as Pittodrie held its breath.

Jamie Walker made no mistake, though, when he was put through on goal by Ikpeazu and he clipped a clinical finish over Lewis.

Levein’s men’s joy at taking the lead turned to dismay when Hickey was correctly shown a second yellow card for rashly clattering McGinn at the edge of the box.

Aberdeen were then handed the chance to level from the spot when substitute McGinn was rashly felled in the box by Clevid Dikamona.

Man of the match Cosgrove made no mistake, sending Zlamal the wrong way to set up a grandstand finish.

And Hedges made sure of all three points — that were fully deserved by Derek McInnes’ side — when he swept a wonderful finish high into the net after a move involving Greg Leigh and McGinn.

As the Aberdeen fans danced deliriously at the end of this glorious game, the stadium announcer called it just right with his choice of music. That’s

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